Rules To Live & Eat By

It's been said that losing weight is 90% diet and 10% exercise. The tables are turned when you're maintaining weight. That's 10% diet and 90% exercise. Why? By the time you've lost the pounds and just want to maintain, you've already learned how to eat.

For those who are still struggling with the first part of this equation, we offer these simple rules to eat by. Break the typical breakfast, lunch and diner into 6 smaller meals of equal size and nutrient density. If your target is 1900 calories a day, that's 317 calories per meal. Don't estimate serving sizes, or you'll end up overeating. Focus on foods that are high in protein with moderate carb and healthy fat content.

The Bigger Picture: The frequent meal times will help reduce cravings and keep your blood sugar stabilized to reduce the chance of energy crash. Now that your diet's in order, hit the gym to perform both resistance and cardio exercise. Alternate days to give your muscles the chance to recover. Remember to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night, since that's when your muscles do the majority of their rebuilding.